Jonathan is Chief Executive of Burgess and one of the most successful, experienced and popular yacht brokers in the industry, orchestrating the sale of many of the world’s most famous and significant yachts.
Jonathan spent his youth sailing on the Norfolk Broads. He then spent a year on a 17m sail boat in the Caribbean, before joining a flotilla company in Greece and working as a yacht broker in Athens. In 1981, he joined the company’s founder Nigel Burgess in Monaco.
‘When I first met Nigel, it was just himself and his secretary, and he couldn’t afford to take on a third employee,’ says Jonathan. ‘We hit it off well though and we stayed in touch, and once Nigel had sold a couple of boats, one of which was the 36m STARRY SKY, he invited me to join him.’
In 1983, Jonathan moved to the UK to launch the London operation and he was invited to invest in the company. 'Nigel said, 'If you buy 10% of the company, I’ll give you another 10%.” It was a struggle for me to get the necessary funds together, but I managed it, and I became the director of Nigel Burgess Ltd at the age of 26.’
Sadly, Nigel Burgess died in 1992 while competing in the Vendée Globe sailing race. Jonathan was appointed as Chief Executive, and under his guidance the company has developed into a full-service offering, with specialist divisions in all aspects of the superyacht industry and multiple offices around the globe. Jonathan cites the development of the company’s charter department, opening an office in America in the mid-90s, and building the in-house technical team as seismic moments. 'One of the defining things for us is never standing still. Each development adds a whole different string to our bow,’ he says.
His expertise lies in leading the company, though he remains highly active in brokerage and new construction projects. Since his first big deal – a boat called SARA BLUE which he sold in 1984 for USD 7,500,000 – he has built and retained multiple client relationships that span more than 40 years. Landmark deals include the sale of the 86m NABILA in 1987 for USD 30,000,000 (USD 15,000,000 more than the previous largest brokerage deal in history) and the 88m MALTESE FALCON, as well as the building of the 180m AZZAM and the 156m DILBAR – the largest yachts by length and volume respectively in the world.
Until recently, Jonathan has divided his time between the Monaco, London and New York offices. In August 2024, Jonathan moved to Miami in the USA to spearhead the development and growth of the Burgess Americas operation.
Jonathan has served on the Board of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA), including two years as President, and is a founding member and former President of the Large Yacht Brokers’ Association (LYBRA).
